Sequel to The Mysterious Bender.
Begin Book 2. There aren't as many flashbacks in this one.
Book 2:
Chapter 1:
Freya looked out over the ocean as the dark sky sat above her and the waters spread for miles. She tucked some of her brown hair behind her ear as the wind blew it in front of her face.
The night was quiet and peaceful besides the waves washing against the sides of the boat. Freya leaned on the side as she stared over the waters, waving her fingers and twiddling with a bit of water.
I wonder if they've reached the shore yet…? I hope their food lasts. Freya sighed You're minds in completely the wrong place. Think about getting to Omashu safely why don't you. Freya looked at her hand and a small flame appeared, flickering around her fingers. "At least I finally got rid of my fever. I feel like a weights been lifted from my shoulders." Freya took a deep breath before she head footsteps and the flame vanished.
Aang came walked out of the cabin below deck with a frown on his face.
"Freya…" he noticed before moving over to her
"Hey."
"What are you doing awake?" he asked her
"Couldn't sleep." she responded, turning back to the ocean. "What about you?"
"Aang?" the two turned as Katara walked towards them. "Freya what's wrong?"
"Nothing. I'm fine." she smiled and Katara turned to Aang who frowned
"Do you want to talk about it?" she asked him.
"Nah. Just a nightmare." Aang looked up at the sky, clouds were scattered across it and the moon was dark. Freya and Katara shared a look but despite what he'd said, Aang continued. "I was in the Avatar state, but I was outside my body watching myself. It was scary. I was scary."
"It's not easy when you hold such power and it can get away from you." Freya nodded in agreement and Aang glanced at her as Katara placed a hand on his back. "But just because it seems impossible to grab a hold of now, doesn't mean you can't do so in the future." she said and Katara smiled as Aang looked between them.
"We should probably get some sleep before we leave the boat." Freya said and the two looked at her "Knowing us sleep might be a bit risky later on."
"We'll be fine once we reach Omashu." Katara believed
"For that we need to reach Omashu." Freya smirked and the girl rolled her eyes as Aang chuckled.
The three returned to below deck and lay back in their fur filled hammocks. Freya stared at the room before she took a breath.
Yes. You need sleep. she whispered to herself before closing her eyes.
Appa stood on the deck and the four stood before Pakku and a few other men. The master bender had a sack in his hands and he reached in to pull out a small water themed vile on a necklace.
"Katara, I want you to have this." He held up the amulet. It had a moon on the lid and was coloured in two different shades of blue. "This amulet contains water from the Spirit Oasis." he handed it to her and Freya smiled "The water has unique properties. Don't lose it." His expression softened
"Thank you, Master Pakku." Katara said as she gave him a hug.
"Aang," the boy stepped forwards as Katara moved to climb into Appa's back. Pakku pulled out a box from the sack. "These scrolls will help you master waterbending," Aang slid the lid open to see the scrolls "But remember they're no substitute for a real master." Aang turned to Freya and Katara behind him and Freya looked at the girl as they smiled.
Sokka stepped forwards next as Aang turned to join Katara.
"Sokka." Sokka waited proudly. "Take care, son." Pakku clapped Sokka's shoulder and the boy slumped disappointedly. Freya clapped his back and he turned for the bison as well.
"Freya." Freya turned to Pakku. "This is for you." Pakku pulled out a water pouch, similar to Katara's and she took it surprised. "Despite your competence at water bending, you seem to always expect to find some near by. Always carry this with you and you'll never be defenceless." Freya looked at it before she smiled.
"Thanks."
"Look after them." he said nodding to the others on Appa. Freya turned to them before she smiled.
"I promise." she agreed.
Freya moved and followed Sokka up onto the bison, joining Aang on his head as Pakku addressed them all.
"Fly straight to the Earth Kingdom base to the east of here. General Fong will provide you with an escort to Omashu. There you'll be safe to begin your earthbending training with King Bumi." Pakku instructed and the four nodded.
"Thank you for all you help." Pakku nodded back and Freya smiled.
"Appa, yip yip!" The bison leaped into the air at Aang command and Katara waved as they ascended.
"Say hi to Gran Gran for me!" she called back.
They watched as the ship became smaller and smaller before it fell away behind them.
"And so, our journey begins again." Freya smiled at those behind them.
"I've got to admit, I'm glad to have removed my over coat." Sokka said
"I'm glad to be back in the air again." Aang smiled
"Well I'm looking forward to see Bumi." Freya smirked "He always makes my day." the others laughed at her.
"Well it shouldn't take us long to get to the Earth Kingdom base, and then it's smooth sailing." Sokka thought, moving his hand through the air
"You say that," Freya said as she strapped her new pouch to her back "But when is that ever the case."
"Come on, we just defeated a Fire Nation fleet, we deserve some good luck." Sokka said
"Technically Aang defeated the fleet." Katara reminded Sokka and he shrugged
"We all played a part. I mean Freya took out a lot of the ships before that." he pointed to her. Freya rolled her eyes as Aang grinned.
"I'm excited to learn earth bending though. I mean it's a whole new experience." Aang confessed
"Well let's hope that excitement helps, I doubt earth bending will be easy." Freya said
"Why not? Water was?" Aang said. Freya sighed
"Your over confidence is appreciated but Aang, you're an airbender by birth."
"So?"
"So, Earth is Air's natural opposite. Air is freedom and diversity. You guys don't attack, everything's about being quick, clever and avoidance of problems. From what I know of earth bending, it's strong and stubborn. You need to be straight forward, not diverse." Freya explained "You're working with air's opposite Aang, it might be harder than water."
"Especially as water's similar to air in it's movements." Katara agreed
"So he should think he's going to fail?" Sokka questioned
"No. He should expect to have to work hard to learn, not expect it to come naturally like water. They're different elements after all." Freya said
"I'm sure despite that Aang'll get it. He's quite a talented bender after all." Aang grinned at Katara's praise.
"Don't let the power go to his head, Katara." Freya smirked.
They four watched as they flew and the waters vanished behind them as land came into sight.
Freya actually grinned at all the trees and mountains below them as Sokka slumped against the saddle.
"Are we there yet?" the three turned to the boy with raised eyebrows
"'Are we there yet?'" Freya repeated "What are you? Seven?" Katara and Aang laughed as Sokka looked annoyed. He turned away before suddenly beaming and sitting up.
"There it is!" the three all turned as a mountain moved out of the way to reveal a circular wall. Three walls steamed out over the mountains from it and there was one gate in and out. A few watch towers sat around the circular wall and in the very centre there was a tall tower. A few smaller huts sat around it as they approached the base and landed within it's walls.
An Earth Kingdom soldier walked towards the bison and out of the tower. He had a long beard and wore his armour while a green cape was tied to his shoulders. His hair was boxed up on top of his head with a hair ornament.
"Welcome, Avatar Aang!" he declared as the four climbed down, Aang turned as he rubbed his butt, Katara removed their stuff and Sokka stretched his back as Freya patted the bison for his good job. "I am General Fong." he introduced as several soldiers all lined up behind him, the whole mass of them bowing to the group. "And welcome to all of you, great heroes! Appa, Momo, brave Sokka, the mighty Katara, incredible Freya."
""Mighty Katara"? I like that." Katara grinned, crossing her arms pleased while Sokka stood proud as Momo flew from Appa's head to Aang's staff.
"Just don't let it get to your head." Freya said and she chuckled.
The four turned around as fireworks suddenly started going off in the sky. The soldiers used their bending to shoot them up where they exploded in a range of colours.
"Wow…" Freya mumbled
"Not bad, not bad." Sokka nodded impressed.
"Seems a bit over kill." Freya mumbled and Aang shrugged.
The four of them were lead inside were General Fong sat at his desk and the group sat on a mat a fair bit from him, Aang in front.
"Avatar Aang, we were all amazed at the stories of how you single-handedly wiped out an entire Fire Navy fleet at the North Pole." General Fong stroked his bead as he spoke. "I can't imagine what it feels like to wield such devastating power. It's an awesome responsibility." he believed
"I try not to think about it too much." Aang admitted
"Avatar… you're ready to face the Fire Lord now." the four looked stunned at the General's decision.
"What?! No I'm not!" Aang snapped back worriedly.
"Aang still needs to master all four elements." Katara admitted
"Plus he's not nearly strong enough. The Fire Lord's had an entire life time to master fire bending, Aang needs more training." Freya agreed
"Why?" The general rose from his chair "With the kind of power he possesses—power enough to destroy hundreds of battleships in a matter of minutes—he could defeat the Fire Lord now!"
"But, sir, the thing is Aang can only do those things when he's in the Avatar State." Sokka admitted
"See, it's this special state where—" Aang began
"I'm well aware." he continued, his voice having lost some of the hostility "Your eyes and tattoos glow and you're able to summon unbelievable power." He walked around his desk and towards his map of the world. "Without you we'd be slaughtered before we even reach their shores." he then pointed his hand from their position to the Fire Nation. "But with you leading the way as the ultimate weapon, we could cut a swath right through to the heart of the Fire Nation."
"Just one problem, Aang also had the help of a spirit in the North Pole. He used the Ocean spirit, in the ocean against the fleet." Freya added "It wasn't just him and his avatar state."
"I also don't know how to get in or out of the Avatar state, much less what to do once I'm there." Aang admitted
"So it's decided then. I'll help you figure out how to get into the Avatar state, and then you'll face your destiny." General Fong suddenly decided.
Sokka, Aang, Freya and Katara got to their feet defensively.
"No, nothing's decided. We already have a plan. Aang's pursuing his destiny his way." Katara snapped
"Besides, messing with the avatar state is dangerous." Freya agreed "There's too much about it that isn't understood."
"Well, while you take your time learning the elements, the war goes on. May I show you something?" he held his hand to the window and walked over it. Aang followed the general to the window. Outside was a building that many bandaged soldiers were moving towards and standing around, crowding while waiting for medical help.
"That's the infirmary, and those soldiers are the lucky ones." General Fong explained "They came back." Aang frowned as he felt sorry for the soldiers "Every day the Fire Nation takes lives. People are dying, Aang! You could end it, now! Think about it." The general turned and walked away as Aang frowned, unsure on what to do.
"This is dangerous." Freya believed "So far Aang's basically lost all concept of remorse when he's in the Avatar State."
"Plus what if he gets to the Fire Lord and he can't defend himself?" Katara asked
"It's not a smart idea." Aang turned to the girls as they talked it over before a soldier came up beside them.
"If you'll follow me, I'll show you to your quarters." the girls shared a look and then glanced at Aang. They followed the soldier and the avatar followed after them, glancing back at the window in which the injured were below.